THE KABBALAH OF TIME:
Kahane and Wainer explain that the calendar is the master key to unlock the hidden rationale behind the formal structure of ancient sacred texts, as well as to understand basic mystical concepts. When comprehended within the context of the Jewish calendar, these works reveal the spiritual energy of each week, serving as a practical guide for self-analysis and development.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Week 24 (Book 3): Peretz and the Power of Joy

Moses led Israel away from the Red Sea, and they went
out into the desert of Shur; they walked for three days in the desert but did
not find water. They came to Marah, but they could not drink water from Marah
because it was bitter; therefore, it was named Marah.

Week 24 is the week of Purim. Soon after the Song of the Sea,
the Jewish people find themselves in a situation that they do not have access
to water. Our sages teach us that water in the Torah is always a reference to
the Torah itself. The story of Purim represents a similar situation, where
Hashem was hidden, and the Jewish people’s lives were embittered and threatened
by the evil Haman. On Purim, the people’s reaction was reaffirm their belief in
G-d and the Torah, receiving the Torah once again.

The Haftorah’s
verses now turn to Asher, who also did not participate in the battle.
Interestingly, the verse states that Asher dwelt in its “breaches” (mifratzav), which is the root of the
name Peretz, the generational link
for this week. Rashi explains that Asher was concerned about the parts of its
lands that could be vulnerable to attack. Like the tribes mentioned before,
Asher’s reaction to the fight was to protect itself. The whole idea of the
month of Adar is to be willing to
sacrifice oneself for someone else.

DafKaf Dalet (Folio
24)of Sotah discusses cases of women that do not drink, often based on extenuating
circumstances. The story of Esther is a perfect example of an extenuating
circumstance. The Midrash states that
Esther was married to Mordechai prior to marrying Achashverosh. Even a plain
reading of the story is problematic due to the fact that Achashverosh was not
Jewish. However, it is difficult to think of greater extenuating circumstances
than those that existed in the days of the Purim miracle. Not only was Esther
in a certain way forced into marrying Achashverosh, but her actions actually
saved the entire Jewish people!

Perez is one
of the twin sons of Yehudah and Tamar. He burst forward from the womb and
emerged first, thereby inheriting the right of the firstborn, which at first
appeared to be going to his brother Zerach. The entire story of Tamar has a
similar theme to that of Esther (as well as that of Yael, which will be
discussed later in the Song of Devorah), which is the idea that under
extenuating circumstances certain acts that would require severe punishment are
deemed to be righteous. Perez, as mentioned before, comes from the verb “Lifrotz,” which means to breach a fence,
a boundary. This can be taken for bad, but also for good, which is reflected in
two different sayings found in our tradition: "Poretz Geder Yishchenu Nachash" (one that breaks boundaries is
bit by a snake) (Ecclesiastes 10:8) and “Simchah
Poretzet Geder” (happiness breaks boundaries. Mashiach is also known as HaPoretz.[1]
This is the happiness of Purim and
the happiness of redemption, which converts darkness into light.

In the
twenty-fourth week, the Jews journey from Tahath and camp in Tarah. Tarah is
spelled the same as Terach, the father of Avraham. Terach comes from smell, and
the Purim story is very much related
to the sense of smell. Smell is very spiritual, and that was the only element
not used in Achashverosh’s party. Rabbi Jacobson explains that Terach also
means “wild goat” and “old fool,” which is the kind of behavior associated with
Purim, when we bring these behaviors
into the path of holiness. The personal journey is to internalize the concept
of making a dwelling place in the lower realms by taking advantage of a
situation of spiritual lowliness, and now focus on spiritually elevating our
environment through holy “foolish” behavior.

Rebbe Yisrael Taub and his son, Shaul Yedidya Elazer Taub, the First and Second Rebbes of Modzitz

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The date also marks the yahrzeit of emmissaries Gavriel Noach and Rivky Holzberg, who died "Al Kidush Hashem" (sanctifying G-d's Holy Name), as well as the Rebbe's miraculous recovery from a massive heart attack.

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Burial Place of the Mitteler Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch

His yahrzeit (and birthday) is on Tuesday, the 9th of Kislev. The following day, the 10th of Kislev, is celebrated as the day of his personal redemption.